Escudero proposes Prosecution, Defense to nominate spox to avoid comments on case merits | GMA News

[00:00:00]Um, is there anything that either of the counsel for the parties wish to um state before we adjourn?

[00:00:08]Attorney Bigluan, I see you standing up.

[00:00:10]>> None at this time, Your Honor.

[00:00:12]>> Um, if there are none, chair would now like to dispose of some administrative matters. Um, first, um, the chair would like to remind the parties in connection with the conference for the marking and or transfer of markings and comparison of video exhibits um, tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at the director room, this shall proceed.

[00:00:35]Senator Judge Soto, what is your pleasure, sir?

[00:00:37]>> I'm sorry, uh, Your Honor, uh, kind sir.

[00:00:40]Uh, won't we dispose of the witness first?

[00:00:43]>> You are [clears throat] correct, sir, Your Honor.

[00:00:45]>> Thank you.

[00:00:46]>> Um, if there are no further questions, um, Director Matibag, you're excused, sir. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your cooperation, and thank you for your patience, as well.

[00:00:55]>> Salamat din po.

[00:00:56]>> You're excused, sir.

[00:00:58]>> Thank you po. Magandang hapon po.

[00:01:04]>> To restate, um, the conference tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the parties are duly reminded at the director room.

[00:01:10]Number two, um, subpoena shall be issued and the clerk of court is directed to issue a subpoena to Miss Violeta Constantino, former Landbank manager, and Miss Nenita Camposano, former branch manager also of Landbank, um, for the, um, resumption of trial on, um, Wednesday, July 29 at 10:00 a.m.

[00:01:35]Unless the court issues a subsequent order recalling or changing the date of the same.

[00:01:42]And, um, one last point administratively, chair would like to remind the, uh, parties to this case of Article 18 pertaining to, um, the rule on making comments or disclosures on the part of the prosecutors, counsel for respondent and their witnesses.

[00:02:04]I say this because I noticed that attorney Tolosa, who is a registered um counsel for the panel of prosecutors and attorney Pua, who is a registered counsel for the respondent, are both serving as the spokespersons as well.

[00:02:23]Thus far, both have been very careful, but as the trial goes on, um it might take its toll with respect to the spokespersons and counsels at the same time being able to distinguish between the merits of the case and purely procedural observations and or facts. So, you might want to consider um in order to give a freer hand nominating a spokesperson, the purely spokesperson that is not limited by the rules of the impeachment court with respect to what he or she can say. Because for your information, the court is also will be monitoring the statements being issued by the counsel by the counsels for the parties. For the information and guidance of the counsels.

[00:03:10]And since this is the last witness of the panel of prosecutors for Article 4 chair would like to inform the senator senator judges that the pre-trial order allocated 11 days for the presentation of this article by the panel of prosecutors.

[00:03:29]They actually consumed only six days given the withdrawal of certain witnesses. We consumed three days for oral arguments on the subpoena on the interjections and debates with senators and on the opening statements of the parties.

[00:03:47]A total of nine days have been spent therefore since we started. So, we are still ahead of 2 days based on the timetable given in the pre-trial order.

[00:03:57]I hope we can be able to continue it continue along these lines.

[00:04:01]Yes, counsel for the respondent.

[00:04:04]>> Your honor, maybe inquire of the order of presentation for Wednesday next week, Your Honor.

[00:04:08]>> It will be Miss Violeta Constantino, as I understand, and then Miss Nenita Camposano.

[00:04:15]>> We confirm, Your Honor.

[00:04:17]>> In that order, Your Honor.

[00:04:19]>> We confirm, Your Honor.

[00:04:20]>> In that order.

[00:04:23]Any other matters? There being no other matters, yes, counsel.

[00:04:26]>> No other matters. I one other other matter, Your Honor. So, more than one witness per day.

[00:04:32]>> We will be issuing the subpoena for both in case I have no idea if it's going to be a short direct and cross and or re-cross.

[00:04:40]So, we shall see. Kindly prepare for the two witnesses on that day.

[00:04:45]If there are no other matters, chair hereby hereby rather Yes, Senator Judge Pia is recognized, ma'am.

[00:04:53]>> Do I assume, given that we seem to be continuing in the same manner of presentation of witness, that I understand the presiding officer discussed with counsel about changing the order? Is that still on the table, just so we can also prepare?

[00:05:07]>> It is, but we will find out by early next week as intimated by the parties.

[00:05:13]That's why the chair earlier stated that the subpoena shall issue unless it will be recalled as maybe dictated by the circumstances.

[00:05:21]We will discuss it once there is agreement among the parties. Absent one, then we shall proceed as scheduled.

[00:05:29]There being no other business, trial is hereby adjourned until Kindly take note, 10:00 a.m. of Wednesday, July 29, 2026.